LETTER TO (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A001500060018-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2005
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: December 17, 1968
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2005/11/21 : CIA-RDP78BO477OA001500060018-2
December 17, 1968
P.O. Box
South West Station
Washington, D. C. 20024
Dear Paul:
I have returned from my trip to France and have
the following remarks to make.
1. The stereo comparator is indeed a tremendously
complicated system.
2. I completely agree with that such an
optical system would have cost a fortune in the U.S.A. It
is even doubtful if any optical company would have been able
to complete it with the time schedule planned. The cost
would probably run from three to five times as much.
3. I quizzed the designers at length about the
system and was satisfied that they were very competent, ex-
perienced, and had put a great dealof effort into the design
and were also deeply involved in the building of the system.
4. I was not able to find any obvious things they
had overlooked. I was surprised with how much they claimed
to have reduced the secondary color, but I concluded that it
was due to their using FK50. I have always considered this
glass to be too exotic to use in a practical design. It has
many difficult properties, such as easy to crack, stains
easily, and tends to have striae. I questioned them a good
deal about this glass and they didn't seem to think it was a
problem. They also claimed they could coat it with no diffi-
culty. I hope they are right and that my fears are unjusti-
fied. It is too late now to change; it will be necessary to
wait and see.
NGA Review Complete
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December 17, 8
Page 2
5. There are so many surfaces that I questioned
them at length about coatings. They were somewhat vague
about this and indicated that they planned to use some three-
layer coatings. I warned them that three-layer coatings can
absorb badly in the blue end of the spectrum. They could also
scatter light badly. I was not sure that three-layer coatings
should be used unless they were sure that they were done by
experts. They said they planned to use Baltzer's to do their
coatings. This is an excellent company and should do a good
job.
6. Everything abouti as old-fashioned, but
probably adequate. Their rooms and working quarters were
dismal and poorly lighted. Their workers were old and decrep-
it. They will not be able to continue optics much longer
without a major overhaul. Modern young people will not work
under such conditions.
7. is an exceptionally fine engineer and
the whole project rests on his skill in working with these
people. If it were not for him, I would give you a dim chance
of ever realizing that instrument. You better take good care
of him and treat him well. I was really impressed with him.
He has things very much under control. Thank goodness I am
not under his control. He is a taskmaster.
8. I am very sorry that an instrument of this com-
plexity could not have been made in the U.S.A. I believe we
must find a way to do so. I feel badly that we are encourag-
ing the exploitation of people for this kind of work. We
should have exploited machines. I admit it would have cost
much more, but if handled properly, it would have cut future
costs.
9. I could not recommend doing this again on future
instruments, particularly if you don't have I
predict this would have been a disaster without him.
I would also like to report to you on two items per-
taining to my last visit to your laboratory.
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I read a report on the micro densitometer and I
believe you should be careful about the Their
report on the color correction of the objectives was very
poor. Many of the statements were wrong and the color
curves they showed were incorrect. Their conclusions about
the apochromats showed a complete lack of understanding on
chromatic correction.
I was particularly disturbed by the illuminator
for the pin hole. They referred to a paper by PLOKE,OPTIK
25 Heft 1, 1967. I looked at this paper and it is okay, but
the pin hole illuminator doesn't make sense.
I wish you would send me the parameters on the
densitometer optics. I believe you have been sold a bill of
goods and that it should be challenged. should
Sincerely,
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